Spring-coiling machine.



F. H. SLEEPER.

SPRING COIUNG MACHiNE.

mmcnnon mgo may a. 1914.

Patnted May 14, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET I.

WITNESSES:

Efi TOR. I?!" ORNEY.

x a cg:

F. H. SLEEPER.

SPRING COILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WITNESSES: Q Q 7 i Q I mvmmrz X i/2,4 Ana/K iJw/ fiv ATTORNEY F. H. SLEEPER.

SPRING COILING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY6',1914.

Patented May 14,1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET a.

nwmron WITNESSES:

F. H. SLEEPER. SPRING COILING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MY 6, m4.

Patented May 14, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4 1 INVENTOR WIHIESSES F. H. SLEEPER. SPRING COILING MACHINE- APPLICATION FILED MAY6,19I4.

Patented May14,1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5 v hwx mix MRRW

WITNESSES.- km? Q- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK HENRY SLEEPER, or woncEsfrnn, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 'ro sLEEr' 'En a HARTLEY, me, or WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A conrorwrron or MASSACHU- SETTS.

4 SIPBING-CGILING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented May 14, 1918.

Application filed Bay 6, 1914. Serial No. 836,628.

a predetermined length; devices for coiling the spring intoany desired spring form, either open or close coil, barrel, coned, twodiameter, &c: and devices to sever the fed wire at the coiling point, While the feeding devices are stopped, allowing the completed spring to drop before the coiling of the next spring has begun.

My improvements are concerned with a number of features adapted to machines of this kind, and the aim of. my invention has been to provide a machine in which alloi these improvements are incorporated in such manneras to allow of very speedy adjustment, and veryready accessibility.

One of my improvements relates to the i'ecding mechanism,having in View the and their supports, as to enable springs of combining of intermittently-operating devices capable of feedingsuccessive lengths of wire within very close limits of accuracy, with means to adjust and regulate said length of feed easily and conveniently.

Another of my improvements is concerned with the providing of a holder for the coiling tools so constructed and arranged with regard to the tools contained therein, and to the machine frame in which it is supported, that it may readily be reversed-to coil either right-hand springs, or left-hand springs, as the operator may desire. Another object of my invention is to so construct the adjacent and coiiperating parts of the machine with reference to the reversible tool holder that wires of varying diametcr may be introduced into the machine without changing the feed rolls or Wire guides.

Another of my improvements consists in the provision of various mechanism, and in so combining them'with the coiling tools very varied contour to be produced very readily and without the necessity of roviding special tools, dies, cams or the fike, as has generally been the caseheretofore.

A further improvement resides in a form of construction whereby the reversible tool holder is combined with pitch controlling mechanism whereby the pitch of any spring may be varied automatically, springs having such varying either right or left hand in sty produced without special tools,

itch, and e, may be as a result of certain simple and speedy adjustments.

A further improvement resides in the cutting mechanism, which is so designed with reference to the adjacent and cooperating coiling tools that the wire may be cut squarely in the plane of the coil. The cut and whereby ting mechanism may be very readily adjusted for'difl'erent wire sizes, and for either right or left hand springs, without requiring special cutters for the different spring forms. i

A further object of my invention has been to provide coiling arbors of a novel type, reversible for night or left hand springs, and in so combinin these arbors with the reversible tool ho derand cutting devices. as to enable springs of varying contour-to be coiled and cut on arbors of considerably smaller diameter.

Machines of this class, as heretofore made, have not been either universal in scope as regards the product, or flexible as to the wire range which might be used. The feeding devices were not accurate enough, nor capable of speedy regulation and adjustment, and the machines were neither readily adjust-able nor. so designed that the same tools could be used for producing a Wide range of springs. Special tools and cams were always( necessary when a new spring form was called for, and the expense and the losses of time occasioned by these limitations have always been a serious obstacle to the use of machines of this class I have aimed to produce, as, a result of ,my experlence and experiments, a spring COIhIlg machine of a universal type, into which a' wide range of wire sizes, can be introduced without chan e of parts, and'which is capable of producing a very' wide range of spring forms without any special tool charge, and as a result of merely making slight and speedy changes in the cooperating working members. It should be stated here that changes from one springforin to another may be made upon my machlne in less than one-quarter of an hour, which changes required on other types of machines from several hours to several days to accomplish.

It will be generally admitted that in machines of this class such features as automatic pitch control and automatic diameter control are old in the art, and that the intermittent feeding of predeteremined lengths of wire to a coiling mechanism is also old.

I claim, however, as novel, the construction of the specific features hereinbeiore enumerated, in a machine of the character claimed, and in particular those structural holder combinations which render possible the results described in the preceding paragraphs.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a front elevation oil my improved coiler.

Fig. 2 represents an end elevation looking from the left hand side.

Fig. 3 represents an enlarged view of the ceiling tools as adjusted for coiling right hand springs.

' Fig. i represents a simliar view of these devices as adjusted for coiling left hand springs.

Fig. 5 represents a reduced sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Fig. 6 is a view of the reversible tool erspectively drawn.

Fig. 'l represents several views of my improved arbor, and

Fig. 8 represents a view in side elevation of the form of adjustable cams which 1 prefer to use in connection with the various devices to be hereinafter described.

Fig. 9. represents a sectional side elevation of the diameter controlling devices mounted on the front housing.

Fig. 16' represents a similar sectional elevation, taken inside of the rear housing, and showing not only the method of driving the feed rolls, but also the automatic pitch controlling devices.

Fig. 11 represents an enlarged view in elevation of the pitch tool and its actual.- ing devices, and

Fig. 12 represents a View of one of the pitch tools.

Fig. 13 representsa view inhorizontal section, taken on the line 13-43 of Fig. 10 and looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 14 is a view in elevation of the rear housing, with the intermittent feed roll driving devices mounted thereon, and

Fig. 15 is a View in section on the line 15-45 of Fig. 14:, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 16 is a view of the noiseless ratchet incense mechanism used in connection with my intermittent feeding devices, the exterior covering having been removed, and

Fig. 1'? represents a sectional view on the line l7-17 of Fig-16, looking in the direction indicated and showing the exterior cover in place.

Fig. 18 represents a side view of the cam used for making barrel shaped springs, and

Fig. 19 represents a similar view of the cam used in making coned or tapered springs.

Fig. 20 represents a similar view of the cam used in producing springs having variable pitch.

lleferring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, l have preferably designed a machine in the form shown, consisting of a pair of upright sides or housings 1 and 2, fastened securelyto a base frame 3,

the various spring forming tools and their adjusting controls being mounted upon or between these housings, and the driving mechanisms (which will be described hereafter) being suitably mounted on the base and housings.

The horizontal line of the wire feed is indicated by the arrow at 4, the wire being fed through the preliminary guide 5 secured to the housing 1. I provide two pairs of feed rolls 36, 7-7, to grip the wire i, and push it for ward into contact with the coiling tools. i also provide a pair of grooved wire aides 8 between the two pairs of feed rol s, together with an additional pair of similarly grooved wire guides 9, by which the Wire'is guided from the feed rolls 7-? to the coiling tools. i

it will be noted that the feed rolls and the wire guides just described, occupy a role-- tively fixed position with relation to the frame of the machine. it will also he noted that rolls and guides are similarly provided with a number of identical grooves of different sizes-see Fig. 5so that a Wide range of wire sizes may be fed into the machine without any change of these parts, by

simply inserting the wire in the groove provided for its particular size. Each groove is capable of taking care of several sizes of wire, being made wide enough to admit the largest wire, and shallow enough to enable the smallest wire to be gripped between the feed rolls.

The upper feed rolls. of each pair are attached to shafts l0 and 11 which are jonr naled in bearings in the housing 1, capable of a slight vertlcal movement and in bearings in the housing 2, which are capable of a slight rocking movement in order to allow pressure to be applied by a spring 14,10 press-the upper feed rolls upon the wire.

The flat spring 14 is "so mounted upon the Mid front housing 1, as to-bear with its ends upon me ntely between the feed rolls in the housing 1.

It should be noted, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 6, that the wire guides 8 and 9 are fastened securely to the housing 1. The two pairs of feed, rolls 6 and 7 are geared together for synchronous rotation as illus-.

trated in Fig. 10, and are driven intermittently in a manner to be hereinafter described,

As the wire is gripped between the feed rolls in the manner just described, and is fed forwardtoward the coiling tools, it passes over or under the arbor 17-, and against the coiling point 18, this latter deflecting the wire downward or upward as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, according to the adjustment of the coiling tools,-to produce either a rightor a left hand spring.

An important part of my invention con sists in the reversible tool holder 19 see Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This tool holder consists of a cylindrical block, preferably of steel, so formed as to contain a coiling arbor such as is. illustrated inFig. 7, and a pitch tool such as is illustrated in Fig. 12. This-tool holder is provided with a locating groove 20, formed longitudinally in one side to cooperate with a pin 21, permanently mounted in an opening 22, in the housing 1, this opening being so formed in the said housing with relation to'theline of feed of the wire and the various coiling and cutting tools, that the tool holder 19 maybe adjusted laterally in said opening soas to bring the tools which it carries upon it into alinement with any one of the plurality of wire grooves in the.

feed rolls and the wire guides.

I provide a clamp screw 23 threaded into the housing 1, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, for the purpose of securing the tool holder 19 in the opening 22 in any desired lateral position with relation to the line of the wire grooves in the feed rolls and wire guides.

As the wire 4 is fed forward by the feed rolls against the coiling point 18 for the forming of a spring, it is desirable to provide means to prevent it bowing between the end of the guide 9 and the coiling point 18, and for this purpose I provide a small grooved member 24, which is secured to the end of the tool holder 19,see Figs; 3 and 4,*and which is not only capable of vertical adjustment with relation to the wire line by reason of a slotted hole through which the fastening screw 25 is passed, but is also capable of being adjusted laterally with the tool-holder 19, of which it forms a part, with relation to the line of feed ofthe wire.

With my improved coilerI usually provide several of these guides 24, each one being adapted to cooperate with a different size of wire groove in the stationary guides 9, and feed rolls 7. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, these adgustable guides 24 are reversible,

. and may be used for the coiling of either right or left hand springs. Threaded holes 26,- to receive the fastening screw 25, are' formed in each end of the cylindrical toolholder 19.

- The form of arbor '17 which I prefer to use in my machine, is, I believe, novel and is fully disclosed in Fig. 7; These arbors are made of steel, hardened. The shanks are preferably made of the same diametral size to enable them to enter the opening 27, formed in the tool holder 19. This circular opening extends throughout the tool holder from end to end and is located eccentrically to the axis of the holder, so that the arbor may be inserted from either side as desired,

and so that the arbor may be in proper positlon when the tool-holder is reversed for the coiling of springs of a different hand.

When the tool-holder has been inserted in place in the machine, a slight pressure ofthe clamping screw 23 will sufiice to keep it in a properly adjusted position until the ar bor 17 has been inserted and has'been also properly adjusted with relation to the line of wire feed, and with relation to the cutting tools, after which the clamping screw 23 may be tightened upon the fiatted face 28 of the tool-holder suiiicientlyto retain the arbor in place. This clamp ng eflect is ac centuated by means of the slot 29, formed in the tool-holder 19'fr0in end to end, and across the axis of the opening 27 as shown in Fig. 6. y

The arbor 17, illustrated in Fig. 7, is provided at each-end with a tip'30' substantially semicircular in cross sectlon, that on one end being adapted to wind a right hand coil, and that on the opposite end, a left hand coil. One of the edges 31 of the tip cooperates with a cutting tool in severing the wire as hereinafter described. The tip 30 is supported at an oblique angle to the line of feed of the wire and below the line of feed for a right hand coil, as shown-in Fig. 3, and above the line of feed for a left hanci coil, as shown in Fig. 4. f

--The coiling point 18 consists of a member formed preferably of steel, hardened, and grooved in one end in the vertical face against which the Wire makes contact during the coiling operation. I provide several of these coiling points, each one having agroove of a difi'erent size to cooperate with the different sizes of-wire grooves in the stationary guides and feed rolls.

I preferably form the housing 1, as shown in Fig. 2, at 32, to contain the slide This slide is capable of being r'eciprocated to and fro, approximately in the center of the line of wire feed viewed horizontally, by means inc of the crank arm 34, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, this crank arm being carried in a bearing provided in the housing 1, and extending therethrough, as shown in Fig. 9, for auto- .matic operation, as willbehereafter described. Y

The slide 33 is provided with a pm 35, ro-

' jecting laterally across the line of wire eed,

to which pin the member 36, in which the coiling point 18 is carried, is adjustably secured or clamped. It will be obvious that the coiling point 18 in its support 36, may

be adjusted laterally so as to'cooperate with any one of the wire grooves in the fixed wire guides and feed rolls, and that this support may alsobefadjusted radially upon the pin 35 so as to swing the coiling point to any desired position with reference to the horizontal line or wire feed.

In order that the lateral adjustment of the block 36 may be preserved, should it be de sirable to remove it from the machine for any purpose, I further provide an adjusting set screw 37, as shown in Figs 3 and 4:,wh1ch bears against the outward vertical face of the slide 33, and which. may bc'used either to obtain a very fine adjustment of the point 18, or to preserve such adjustment, if once obtained. g

The coiling point 18 issecured in a recessed portion of the carrying block 36, and is held in, position by means of the clamp 38 and screws 39,see Figs. 3'and 4.

It will be obvious that the coiling point 18 may be adjusted laterally and vertlcally to cooperate with any of the wire grooves,

and maybe used equally for right or left hand coiling. I frequently form thesecoil ing points with wire grooves in each end,

so that the same'coiling point may either be used for twcgdifierent' sizes of w1re', .or w 1 ll v have a double lifetime in, actual use.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and .5, attention is directed to the pitch tool 40, which is carried in'the opening 41 of the tool holder 19, v and is formed somewhat as shown iii-Fig.

12. These pitch tools are of-difierent shapes I at that point wherethe wire spiral comes the pitchin 85- into contact-with them, and difi'erentforms of springs require difl'erent forms of tools,

for which I have made provision in my'improved machine. The function of the pitch tool 40 is to'deflect the coil after it has been formed, and to give to it the necessary itch,

or space between the coils. This tool slides easily in the op'enin A1, in the tool holder 19, and is connects at the rear end'to a link 42,-see Fig. 11,in such manner as to be' speedily connected or disconnected whenever it is necessary to change from right to left hand springs, thelink 42 audits oper- '-'ative COIIIICCiZliF S being so positioned as-to allowthe pitc tool 40 to be connected for x of either right or left hand springs, as s own'm Figs. 3, 4, and 11;

forward against'the coiling point; 18 by theatre Summarizing the various operations the coiling ofa straight, open coil compression s ring so far-as they havelbeen describe it will be noted that the wire 4: is fed means of the feed rolls 6--6, 7- -7, and is thereby deflected around the arbor 17, the amount of vthis deflection, and the consequentdiameter of the resultin coil being determined by the relative positions of the coil point 18, and the coiling arbor 17 as is well known.

After the coil has been formed, the pitch tool presses against the end in such manner and to such an extent as to deflect the wire continuously into a series of spirals of the required pitch.' I

As soon as the feed rolls have stopped (their driving devices being of an interrmittent character as will be hereinafter de- 85 scribed) cutting devices come into operation to effect the severing of the wire at the arbor. v

lQne of the principal improvements on my machine consists in the provision of two cuttin devices, I one of which is used when rig t hand springs are beingcoiled, the other f 3 being used when left hand springs are being.

coiled. These cutting devices are illustrated. clearly in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and hand will now be described.

The cutting tools 43, 44:, consist preferably of 'a rectangular piece of steel suitably mounted b means of clamps 45 and 4G, or other suitale fast-enings, upon the ends of the radially-swinging heads i7 and 48.

These arms to which the cutting tools are secured are preferably recessed in an'angular direction to receive these tools, and.are so mounted, with reference to the ceiling tools as to' allow the end of the cutting tool 43, or it, to coiiperate with the cutting edge 31 of the arbor 17, the efl'ect of such-cooperative action being to sever the" wire, leaving a small ortion of the coil still wrapped around I the ar or,.and in contact with the coiling.

poin'tlj.8.' j 3 Referring to Figs; 2, 3, 4', and 14, it will be noted that each of the cutter heads 47'and 48 is formed upon a cylindrical member or shaft mounted in th'e housings 1 and 2' for rotation and'coupled together, as shown in 'Fig. 14, by means, of the end clamps 49 and link 50. The lever 51, Fig, 2, connecting these cutting members with the driving mechanism, is securely fastened to the lower shaft which carriesflthe lower cutter head 47, andis operated. by means hereinafter to be described;

'. cutting tool 43 or 4 4 into operative relation 130 with the arbor 17 in connection with which it is to be used, and to so adjust the cutter which is not in use with said coiling and 4.

The cutter arms 47 and 48 are laterally adjustable in their bearings in the housings 1 and 2, and may, by means of the set collars 52, Fig. 2, be adjusted so as to bring the cutting tools into operative relation with the arbor when the latter has been adjusted for any one of the different grooves in the stationary guides and feed rolls.

It is possible, in my improved spring coiling machine to produce straight, close Wound springs, by adjustin the set screw 53 so as to bear against one o the vertical faces of the crank arm 34 (see Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4), thus limiting the travel of the slide 32 and keeping a constant relation between the arbor 17 and the coiling point 18 during the coiling operation.

It is also possible, keeping the above adjustments, to produce a straight open coil spring by using the pitch tool 40-, this tool being pressed against the end of the coil and deflecting each coil as formed to the desired extent to produce the necessary pitch.

Such forms are the simplest to produce, but it is, moreover, possible in my improved spring coiling machine to produce a very large number of spring forms of varying contour, such as coned springs, barrel springs, two-diameter springs and the like, and I will now describe the method by which these may be coiled on this machine, without the necessity of introducing special tools for each spring form,.as has heretofore been the case.

As previously stated the coiling point 18 and its carrying member 36 may be reciprocated to and from the arbor thel associated slide 33 and an crank arm 34 suchmovement afiects the diameter of the springebeing produced, by varying the distance tween the arbor 17 and. coiling point 18. Automatic movements of this kind are transmitted to the crank arm 34, Figs. 2 and 9) from the cam 54, through the cam roll 55, cam lever 56, auxiliary lever'57,

llllk 58, and clamp arm 59 arm 59 is firmly secured to an extended per-- t-IOII of the crank arm 34, and, the link 58 connects the arm 59 and the auxiliary lever 57. Both of the levers 56 and 57 are preferably mounted as of the cam shaft 60, and in such that any movements of the actuating cam 54 may be varied in transmission from the cam colever 56 to the auxiliary lever 57, bymeans of an ad ustable interponent,such, for instance, as the block along the lever 57 and fastened thereon in any desired position so as to changethe rela- 5 tive movements of ,these'two levers, and the that it will not interfere operations. See Figs. 3'

an adjusting screw 17 by means of.

(see

as shown. The

shown on opposite sides,

a manner 1 61, which may be .slid- A .such a cam forthe one deal consequent movements'of the crank 34, slide 33, and coilin point 18.

It will be obvious that an automatic variable movement may be transmitted from a properly formed cam 54 to a coiling point 18, so as to vary the distance of the latter from any fixed point (such as the arbor 17). The practical effect of such a variation, occurring during the coiling periods, is to change the diameter of the spring being formed.

I have found that every kind of barrel shaped spring ordinarily used may be produced by' means of a cam .formed as shown in Fig. 18, the various adjustments which can be introduced by means of the adjustable interponent or block 61, and by constructing the link 58 of a readily adjustable kind, being suflicient to take care of the variations usually found in springs of this description. I preferably use an extension spring such as is designated by 62 in Fig. 9, to keep the cam roll 55, in contact with the cam 54; or, when the adjusting screw 53 alone isbeing used to limit the travel ofthe c ank arm 34 away from the arbor, to exert the necessary force upon the arm 34 to move it in the direction of the adjusting screw.

It has been stated that in the coiling of I any kind of straight springs the position of the coiling point 18 is adjusted by means of 53, in contact with a vertical face of the crank arm 34, and I utilizethis form of design to effect the coiling of straight springs having one or both ends coned or reduced, by so adjusting the coiling point18 that the spring is begun and finished on the cam 54, (producing the coned ends,) while the coiling of the-straight intermediate portion is done While the crank arm 34 is banked on the set screw 53.

The automatic coiling of tapered or coned springs is eflected by means of a cam 63, formed similarly to the one shown in Fig. 19. the cam- 54 being removed from the machine, and the new cam 63 substituted in its place for this purpose.

By referring to Figs. 10 and 13 it will be obvious that such substitution may be effected very readily, the cam being held in place'on the cam hub 64 by clamping .washer 65, and'its fasteningscrews 66. The cam hub 64 is, ofcourse, permanently secured to the cam shaft 60 in a suitable manner. As soon as the clamping member 65 is loosened and slid away from the hub a short distance, any cam which happens to e in use on the machine at the time may be removed laterally from the hub, and from the machine without any further trouble, since it is provided with an opening to pass 1 over the shaft 60. s stated, I use a cam of the form shown in Fig. 19 for the production of all varieties of tapered or conedsprin by substituting I 'gnated as 54, and

means of the 115 utilizing the same cam lever and link system to operate the crank arm 34: in the manner just described. To accomplish this result the cam 63 is so adjusted as to allow the coiling of a coned or tapered spring to begin at the smallest end, the cam roll 55 being then farthest from the center of the cam; and as it progressively advances toward the center the spring coils grow larger in diameter. Adjustments to vary the spring diameter, or the rate of increase in diameter, are made, as before, by means of the sliding interponent 61, and the adjustable link 58. As in the case of the barrel cam 54:, the

taper cam 63 may he used in conjunction with the limiting adjusting screw 53 to produce odd forms of springs, the diameter control being efi'ected for a part of the time by means of the cam, and for the remaining time by means of the set screw.

*One or both of the cams 67 shown in Fig. 8, which are ordinarily used for pitch-control purposes, may be used for diameter control in place of the cams 54 and 63, or may be used in conjunction with these cams or in conjunction with the screw 53, for producing odd forms of springs.

For instance, one of these cams 67 may be used as a substitute for producing straight, two-diameter springs, the cam being adjusted for the smallest diameter of the spring to be produced and the screw 53 being adjusted for the largest diameter. In such a case the sliding interponent 61 is so adjusted as to get the best form of coil as the control mechanism changes from the cam to the adjusting screw.

When it is necessary to produce a straight, two-diameter spring in which both the ends are of reduced diameter, bothcams 67 are employed to produce the small diameter at each end, and the screw 53 is adjusted to limit the movement of the coiling point 18 Y for the production of the large diameter. 45111 producing coned, two diameter springs having one straight end, (both ends being of the same diameter) ll use one of the cams 67, in conjunction with the taper cam 63, be-

ginning the spring on cam 63 and adjusting an cam 67 to get the straight end of the desired I length. 1

It will be obvious that all of these changes and adjustments may be made very'rapidly and speedily, and that the equipment described will enable an operator to produce the specified spring forms without requiring special tools for each separate form;

In Figs. 10, 11, 12, the automatic pitch control mechanism is clearly shown. The outer vertical face 68 of the pitch tool 40 in Fig. 11 is beveled so as to engage laterally the end coil of the spring that is'being produced, thus imparting to it the desired amount of pitch-or space between the coils. as (The pitch tool 40 shown in Fig. 1l is intended for'right hand coiling. and the tool shown in Fig. 12 for left hand coiling, the main difierence beingv in the beveled vertical face.) The pitch tool a0 is operatively connected by means of the pin 69, and link 42, 70 to the upper arm of the bell crank 7 O. This bell crank is suitably mounted for pivotal movement,preferably as shown in Fig. 11,-to a bearing block 71 fastened to the inside vertical face of the housing 2. An ad- 75 justing screw 72, preferably threaded into the housing 2, limits the rearward travel of the bell crank 70, and also serves to take the end thrust of the tool 40 in the ordinary pitching operations in which variable pitch 30 is not required. In using the expression variable pitch, 1 have in mind, of course, springs which are produced with a variable spacing between the coils-such as many forms of coned or tapered springs-and also springs in which one or more of the end coils are laid close at one or both ends of the spring form; It is of very considerable advantage to a. spring maker to be able to pro duce automatically springs having their end coils laid close,-or flatted, as is the com mon shop phrase. Otherwise, it is necessary by subsequent operations to'square the ends of the springs by heating and pressing. methods which are, by comparison, both tedious and expensive. Similarly, it is an important point to be able to coil any kind of springs with a variable, or progressive, pitch.

Returning to the devices in Figs. 10 and 11, the pitch cams 67 are shown mounted in operative position on the cam hub 65. secured to the cam shaft 60, with a cam roll 73, cam lever 74, auxiliary cam lever 75 and adjustable link 76, very similar in all respects to the cam and lever system shown in Fig. 9, and described in connection with the diameter control devices. In the same way an interposed sliding block 77 is used to vary the throw of the'cams 67. A spring 78, attached to the bell crank 70 and to any convenient fixed point, tends to draw the pitch tool 40 at all times away from the spring coil being produced.

In producing an ordinary close coil spring the pitch tool'O does not come into use. When open coil springs with equal pitch throughout from end to end are desired. the link 76 is adjusted to allow the cam roll 73 to drop clear of the cam ,67, and the pitch 12o tool 40 is then adjusted laterally by means of the adjusting screw 72 the necessary amount to produce a spring of the desired pitch, the pitch tool 40 maintaining a fixed relation to the other coiling tools.

In producing open coil springs with one or more of the end coils laid close, a pair of cams .67 is selected. and adjusted relatively one to another,that is, spread out or closed togcther,-according to the length of the spring, before being clamped into position .on the cam hub 64. The action of the cams 67 on the pitch tool 40, as transmitted through the various connections, is such that the pitch tool is retracted laterally from operative connection with the spring being produced for a period corresponding to the coiling of the one or more close coils at the ends, and is moved laterally into operation during the coiling of the intermediate coils so as to cause them to be properly itched or spaced. Pitch tools 40 are provi ed for coiling either right or left hand springs and these may be inserted intoplace by taking out the pin 69, and sliding the tool 40 out I of the holder 19, a reverse movement replacupon the cam shaft.

. to the shaft fee mg the other pitch tool, as soon as the tool ho der 19 has been reversed in the housing 1. The. link 42 is shown in Fig. 11 as connected with the pitch tool 40 for a right hand coil. lVhen a left hand coil is to be wound the reversal of the tool holder will bring the pitch tool above the line of wire and 1n this position the link 42 when attached to the pltch tool will assume the position shown by broken lines in ig. 11.

I show in Fig. 20 a form of variable pitch cam which I have found very useful in my improved spring coiling machine and which may be briefly described as comprising a pair of cam bodies, relatively adjustable to one another, and connected by a sliding. tongue-and-grooved link, extensible to a limited extent. These cam bodies 78, 79, may be clamped in position upon the cam hub 64, in exactly the same way as of cams 67, illustrated in Fig. 13. The outer surface 80 upon which the cam roll 73 contacts is made continuous by connecting links 81-82, connected by pivot pins at 83 and 84 to the cam bodies, and locked together as descrlbed against radial movement. This form of cam may be adjusted in itself so as to' vary both throw and time. and in practice advances the pitch tool 10 'against the end .of the spring coils as they are produced in such a manner as to correspondingly vary the pitch of the spring coiled under these conditions.

All of the cams with the exception of the cutting cam 85, Fig. 2, are .so formed (see Figs. 8, 18, 19, 20,) as to be readily removed from, or replac upon, their mountings he cutting'inechanism hereinbefore described is operated through the lever 51, Fig. 2, secured to the shaft carrying the lower cutter head 47, the link-86, the cam lever 87,- and the cam 85, secured to the cam shaft 60, (see Fig.2.) i

' Power is applied to the pulley 88 secured 89, Figs. 2 and 14, which latter is suitably mounted in bearings carried in the housing 2 angdpillow block 90. Power;

may be transmit from the main driving the pair the gear segment 94.

On the main driving shaft 89, I form a toothed gear 92, Fig. 14, and on the outer end of the cam shaft 60 I mount a larger spurgear 93, which meshes with pinion 92 and transmits motion to the cam shaft 60. I transform the constant circular motion transmitted to this spur gear 93 into an intermittent motion to operate the feed rolls by means of the pivoted segment gear 91. which meshes with the pinion 95, the latter being in operative connection with the noiseless ratchet illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17. and "driving the feed rolls intermittently as will hereafter be described.

Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, I form the spur ear to receive a crank block 90, which i may e slid in dovetailed ways across the center of the gear, and which may be clamped in any desired position with reference to the center of the gear 93, by means of the gib 97' and clamping screws 98. Raised portions 99 formed on the central web of the gear 93, are preferably used to provide support for the crank block 96, and gib 97. To facilitate the transverse adjustment of the block 96 I provide an adjusting screw 100, threaded into the block 96, and supported against end thrust by means of a 101 secured to the gear 93. Suitable collars 102 may be formed on the adjusting screw 100, to cooperate with the thrust hear ing 101, and the screw is provided with a squared end 103, so that it may be readily turned with some suitable tool, such as a ratchet wrench.

I provide the block 96 with a pin 104,111-0- laterally therefrom, and adapted to cooperate with and engage a sliding'memher 105, mounted in a radial groove 106,- in The segment is piv otally mounted in the machine base on the rock shaft 107, in such relation to the spur gear 93, that the circular motion of the gear is transmitted, through the crank connections 96, 104 and 105, to the segment and causes the latter to oscillate across the face of thegear 93, the travel of the segment being dlrectly'proportioned to the adjustment of the crank block pin 104 away from the axis of the gear 93. Teeth formed on' ment 94. and pinion95 are disclosed in operative relation to the ratchet mechanism whereby the rotation of the pinion is properly transmitted to the shaft 91 for the intermittent operation of the feed rolls.

In constructing the noiseless ratchet illustrated more particularly in Figs. 16 and 17 I make the central disk or ratchet wheel 108 from steel, preferably hardened afterward, and form a series of teeth 109 upon its outer circumference, these teeth being formed with an included angle of about ninety degrees, and in such angular relation to the diametral axis of the wheel as to coiiperate most effectively with similar teeth 110 formed in a ratchet pawl 111. pivoted exteriorly to the wheel 108. The toothed ratchet wheel 108 is fastened securely to the shaft 91 by any suitable means, such as the key 112, and imparts rotation to said shaft. 1 provide an inclosing member for this toothed wheel, consisting of a disk 113, with an annular flange 11 1 upon it, and further provide a cover plate or disk 115 to contact with the flange 114 and prevent the entrance of any dirt and dust which might interfere with the operation of the ratchet and pawl.

The pawl 111 is pivotally mounted on a pin 116, which is secured in the cover plate 115, the pawl being substantially the same thickness as the ratchet wheel 108, so that it practically fills the space between the opposite faces of the disk members 115 and 113. This pawl 111 comprises an arm 117, upon one face of which a number of ratchet teeth 110are formed, and an extension 118 approximately at right angles to the toothed arm 117. The portion 118 is rounded on two opposite faces so as to engage smoothly with the opposite faces 119, 120, of a slot or openingh formed in the flange 11 1 opposite to t e pivot pin 116, for a purpose to be hereafter described.

The pinion 95 is free upon the shaft 91 and is formed with a hub 121 adapted to drive tightly into an opening formed centrally in the disk 113, to which the hub 121 is keyed by a key .122, Fig. 17, so that the pinion and disk will move as one member.

The segment 94, oscillated by its crank connection to the gear 93, drives the pinion 95, rotatin it in either direction, ac-' cording to the direction of oscillation.

Referring to Fig. 16, and assuming that the segment 94 is moving to the right, the gear 95 and disk 113 would, in this case, rotate together overhand to the left. The efieet of such rotation upon the pawl 111 is to throw it intoengagement with the ratchet wheel 108, as a consequence of the pressure of the surface 119, of the flange 114 against the extension 118, thereby rocking the pawl 111 upon its pivot 116 and carrying the toothed arm 117 into engagement with the ratchet Wheel 108, driving the shaft 91 and,

through the gearing 123 and 124, Fig. 10, imparting motion to the feed rolls.

As soon as the segment 94 has completed its movement to the right and has begun the reverse motion to the left the pinion and disk 113 also reverse, and commence to move clockwise to the right. The immediate effect of this movement upon the pawl 111 is to throw it out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 108, ,the slotted flange carrying the extension 118 about the center of the pin 116, (the latter standing pra'ctically still meanwhile) until the toothed portion 117 banks against the pin 125, mounted in the disk 113. In each case the cover plate 115 does not immediately follow the disk 113 when it begins to rotate, being merely held in position on the shaft 91 by frictional engagement of a suitable kind,such for instance as is afi'orded by the compression spring 126 and washer 127.

The specific mechanical advantages claimed for this form of ratchet gearing, apart from its use in the intermittent feeding mechanism of my coiler, are for noiseles'sness, strength, and certainty of operation.

It will be clear from the foregoing dcscription that the feeding mechanism may be adjusted, by means of the crank block adjusting screw 100, to'dcliver any desired amount of wire required from a fraction of a coil up to the full capacity of the machine.

The number of feed rolls required varies with different sizes of machines, since more power is required to feed wires of large diameter than for small wires.

1 preferably form all parts of the machine which come in contact with the wire, of steel, hardened, for greater durability. 1n the operation of my improved coiling machine the feeding mechanism is adjusted to feed a length of wire suficient to make a single 5 ring during its intermittent movement,'an the cutting mechanism is actuated to cut the spring already coiled upon the cessation of the feeding mechanism.

The wire is fed in the present instance in a horizontal path, either over or under the tip of the coiling arbor, and when it strikes the vertical face of the grooved coiling point which intercepts the path of the wire, a slight initial bend is given to the advancing end of the wire to direct it either upward or downward for a ri ht or left hand coil, as the case may be. f an open coil is desired, the pitch tool is placed in the tool holder in position to spreadthe coils as they are being made, the distance required.

By carrying the coiling arbor and the pitch tool in openings in the tool holder 'which are eccentric to its axis, the arbor and pitch tool are held in proper position for right or left hand coils by the endwise reversal of the tool holder.

- work, a wire feeding mechanism,

and at its opposite I am able to make the changes necessary for different diameters of springs and for a great variety of coils by a few simple adjustments requiring small exercise of skill or judgmenton the part of the operator,

\Vhile I have here illustrated and described my invention in forms most preferred-by me, I desire it to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the precise mechanical forms and terms in which I have illustrated and described my inventionsz since it is manifest that such maybe the skilled desl ner very widely varied by without departing from the essentials 0 my invention, and without obtaining any material change in the result produced.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a spring coiling machine, a framea coiling arbor having its opposite ends adapted for coiling right and left hand springs, and a holder supporting said arbor and held of said arbor may be brought into operaative to the wire feeding mechanism.

2. In a spring coiling machine, a framework, a wire feeding mechanism, a tool holder. held in said framework and longitudinally adjustable therein, a coiling arbor having a tip at one end adapted to coil a right hand spring and a tip at the opposite end adapted to coil a left'hand spring, and an eccentric opening through said tool holder for said arbor, whereby said coiling tips are brought above or below the line of wire feedby the reversal of said tool holder.

In a spring coilin machine, a framework, a reversible cyllndrical tool holder held in said framework, and having an opening eccentric to itsaxis, a wire feeding mechanism, a pitch tool held in said opening whereb said pitch tool is brought above or below t versal of said tool holder.

In a spring coiling machine, a framework, a wire feeding mechanism, a coiling arbor having a tip provided with a curved surface tangential to the line of wire feed, and a coiling point comprising a plate having a straight side normal to the line of wire feed the line of wire feed, whereby the wire is deflected around over the curved surface of said tip in either an'upward or a downward direction.

In a spring coiling machine, a framework, a wire feeding mechanism, a tool holder held reversibly in said framework, a coiling arbor held eccentrically in said tool holder and provided with a coiling tip at one end adapted to coil a right hand sipring,

end with a tip 'apted I arbor and pitcl tool holder laterally with relation to the e line of wire feed by the re-' and extending transversely across to coil a left hand spring, means for adjusting the tool holder longitudinally to bring said coiling tips in alinement with the line of wire feed, and a coiling point held normal to and extending transversely across the line of wire feed, and presenting one of its edges in the the coiling tip.

6. In a spring coiling machine, a wire feeding mechanism, a coiling arbor provided with a cutting'edge, means for maintaining said arbor with its cutting edge either above or below the line of wire feed,- a pair of swinging cutter heads one above and one below said arbor, means for simultaneously swinging said cutter heads,- and. cutting blades-adjustably held in said'headsfi 7. n a spring coiling machine, a wire feeding mechanism. a coiling. arbor, a coiling point comprising a plate having an edge extending transversely across the line of wire feed and normal thereto, and means for varying the distance between thecoiling arbor and said plate comprising an actuating cam, a swinging lever actuated by said cam, a second lever provided with a block contacting with saidfirst lever and longitudinally adjustable on said second lever, and an operative connection between said second lever and said coiling point.

Ina machine of the class described, the combination of wire feeding devices, acoiling arbor, a pitch tool, va reversible tool holder adapted to contain and support said 1 tool, means to adjust said line of wire feed, and coiling arbor, and the in the tool hold thereof. A

9. In a machine of the class described and in combination with wirefeeding devices, a cylindrical tool holder adapted to support and retain a coiling arbor and a pitch tool, means to adjust saidholder and said tools laterally with relation to the line of wire feed, a coiling point or wire demeans to adjust the pitch tool, laterally er, and independently path of the wire as. it leaves flector, means to adjust said coiling point the Wire/feed, wire relation "to the line class described,

the combination with intermittent wire feeding devices provided with a plurality of different wire grooves,

means to adjust said stationary wire uides' provided with a corresponding plurahty of wire grooves, a reversible tool to ad ust said holder relatively to any one of the said wire grooves, a coiling point, means to adjust Said point both laterallywith relation to any one of said wire grooves, and radially to cooperate with holder, means the tool holder in itsand its contained tools 1 Wire feeding devices,

dim

reversed positions, Wire severing devices, means to adjust said severing devices to aline with any one of said plurality of wire grooves, means to adjust said severin devices to cooperate with the tool holder in its reversed positions, Wire severing devices, means to adjust said severingdevices to aline with any one of said plurality of Wire grooves, means to adjust said severing devices to cooperate with the reversible tool holder and its contained tools in its reversed positions, and means to operate said severing devices While the Wire feeding devices are stopped.

11. In a mac ine of the'class described, a reversible tool holder adapted to support and contain coiling tools, means to adjust the holder and its contained tools to diflerent positions for producing right or left hand springs, a coiling point, means to adjust said point to cooperate with the coiling tools in the reversible holder in their diiierent adjusted positions, means to adjust said coiling point automatically with reference to said reversible tool holder to vary the form of spring being produced, plural Wire severing devices, means to adjust member,

same to cooperate with the diflerent opera tive positions of the reversible tool holder, and means to operate the selected severing device.

12. In a machine of the class described, an intermittent Wire feeding mechanism, comprising, in combination, a rotating member, a crank adjustable upon said rotating member, a gear segment mounted for oscillation transversely to the axis of said rotating and having a radial groove therein, a block adapted to slide in said groove, means to engage said block and the adjustable crank member and thereby transform rotary motion into reciprocating motion, a gear meshing with the gear segment, Wire feeding rolls, and a. ratchet device interposed between said gear and said feed rolls, giving the latter rotation in one direction only.

in testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of April, 1914, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

FRANK HENRY SLEEPER.

Witnesses:

A. S. Scannorv, Gronen l). Hanrrnr. 

